H.264 video results same in ffmpegX as Handbrake?

[skone]

I noticed in that although Handbrake is pretty smooth to use, the resulting video is way to dark to be acceptable. I am using ffmpegX ith the mencoder H.264 codec, due to the powerfull image adjustments/enchancement options available. I have been experiencing various issues with various sources when encoding using the mencoder preset (audio sync, white video, stretched video, files not re-compiling etc)

Curious to see if anyone has done a 1 to 1 test encoding the same VIDEO_TS folder using ffmpegX with straight up H.264, versus Handbrake - same file size, bit rates, framerates etc.

My point being the following question: is the dark video a result of the H.264 codec in all encoders, or is it just a Handbrake thing? If it's just a HB thing then perhaps ffmpegX will encode to H.264 without issue?

ffmpegX is amazing work in progress!

Thanks to all, and especially Major!

[rumplestiltskin]

Have you checked the resulting video by playing it through the iPod's TV cable? If you're just watching it on your monitor, you may have to change your display color profile to make it work properly. I'm talking about changing the gamma (at least).

I have to do this in order to properly preview videos that I intend for use on my TV through my iPod.

[skone]

I'm compressing not for an iPod but full size 720, 640 etc. for media centre type of usage. Basically archiving my DVD collection to hard drive. The H264 codec seems to give nice quality, with comparatively small bit rates.

I have been sucsessful in encoding some titles in a series (same DVD VIDEO_TS folder) using the mencoder h264, with awesome results. And I mean awesome. The ability to raise the density and relative contrast of the video blows the straight h264 out of the water. That has been my experience, at any rate. I haven't tried divx, xvid etc. at all, but do have some sample video in avi, divx format, and have done my own test comparaising. The mencoder h264 just looks smoother, crisper, better. And at a much lower bit rate.

It's just frustrating to have the dual 2.5 g5 crunch for 4-5 hours only to find the audio is out of sync, or video is stretched. I can't imagine the comitment some of you make in testing files that take 12-24 hours to crunch!

Hats off!

[rumplestiltskin]

Yes; I agree totally about H264. Even the smaller sizes necessary for iPod use provide good results.

You might try using MacTheRipper to get the unprotected VOBs onto your hard drive. Then you might try MPEG Streamclip. It's free and has a pretty good selection of H264 "tweaks" available. Drop the first VOB into the MPEG Streamclip window and the app will ask you if you want it to open all of them in the sequence. Then you may set in and out points (optional but not required).

Let us know how it goes.

[voxsola]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Mpeg Streamclip is just the ticket I needed to re-encode all the Enterprise episodes I ripped via HandBrake that are so dark they are impossible to enjoy with all the blockiness and uneven gradients as well as too dark.

I already have QT Pro7.0.3 which cost me $40 CDN and to make this work I had to fork over another $30 CDN for the QuickTimeMPEG2 component but to me it's well worth it as I have other DVD's that will no doubt be too dark with HandBrake only as well.